Hugh Harkins

Cold War Air Combat, Czechoslovak MiG-15 & USAF F-84E Hugh Harkins

Cold War Air Combat: Czechoslovak MiG-15 & USAF Europe F-84E - Czechoslovak West German Border Region, 10 March 1953ABSTRACT This research paper details the only documented air combat between North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and European Eastern Bloc jet fighter aircraft during the Cold War. This incident took place near the West German- Czechoslovak border on 10 March 1953 when United States Air Force F-84E fighter aircraft were engaged by Czechoslovak MiG-15 fighter aircraft. This engagement resulted in one of the F-84E's being shot down, climaxing several years of claims and counter claims of airspace violations. The paper attempts to separate fact from non-fact and puts forward answers to the disputed questions of aircraft numbers involved, where the combat was initiated and the reason for the resort to force.